Bandit protective device for automobiles



Sept. 28, 1937. y E. BURLEY 2,094,261 v l BANDIT PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR4UTOMOBILES Filed Jan. `11, 1935 Patented Sept. 28, 1937 PATENT OFFICE-`BANDIT PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Ernest L. Burley, Pasadena,Calif.

Application January 11, 1935, Serial No. 1,369

3 Claims.

This invention relates to bandit protective devices for automobiles.

The general object of the invention is to provide an automobile or othervehicle with novel means for repelling an attack by bandits.

Another object of the invention is to provide means on an automobilewhereby the operator may discharge a quantity of fluid or gas at abandit when the bandit approaches the car.

A further object vof the invention is to provide improved means forstoring and discharging fluid for the purpose described.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention willi be apparentfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an au- `tomobile with aprotection device embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentary central longitudinal section through the gas storage tank;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged Afragmentary section taken on line 5-5 olf Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 'l is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 'I--l of Fig.1; l

Fig. 8 is a detail section of a liquid container for use in combinationwith my device; and,

Fig. 9 is` a detailsection of a modified form of liquid container foruse in combination with my system. v

Referring to the drawing by reference characters I have indicated yanautomobile generally at I0. As shown the automobile I0 includes theusual drivers compartment I2 having a door I3 in which there is a windowI4. The automobile IIJ further includes an engine compartment I5 and apartition I6 separating the drivers compartment from the enginecompartment. Furthermore, the usual steering wheel I1 and supportingcolumn I8 therefor are located in the drivers compartment I2.-

Mounted on the partition I6 in the engine compartment I provide an airtank I9 which includes a tire Valve 2li for admitting air under pressureinto the tank.

Mounted on the partition I6 in the engine compartment below the air tankI9 I provide a gas tank 2|. Positioned between the tanks I9 and 2| Iprovide a control valve 22, Fig. 3, which includes a body portion 23which is secured to the tanks I9 and 2l by bolts and nuts 24. l'I'libody 23 has a irusto-conical recess 25 therein and for closing therecess 25 I provide a cap member 26, Fig. 2, which is secured to thebody 23 by bolts 2l. The body 23 has an air inlet 5 aperture 28 thereinwhich at one end communicates with the conical recess 25 and at theopposite end communicates with an air outlet aperture 29 in the air tankI3.

Opposite the inlet 28 the body 23 has an air 10 outlet aperture 3l)therein which at one end communicates with the conical recess 25 and atthe opposite end communicates with an air inlet aperture 3l in the gastank 2I. At one side of the apertures 23 and 38 the body 23 has a gasinlet aperture 32 therein which at one end communicates with the conicalrecess 25 and at the opposite end communicates with a gas outletaperture 33 in the gas tank 2|. The body 23 has a threaded coupling boss34 extending from one side thereof to lwhich a conduit 35 is connectedby a coupling nut 36. The body 23 furthermore has a gas outlet aperture31 therein which is positioned at right angles to the gas in.- letaperture 32 and at one end communicates with the conical recess 25 andat the opposite end opens into the conduit 35. l

Positioned inthe conical recess 25 I provide a frusto-conical Valve plug38 which is rotatable in the recess 25 and includes a reduced operatingstem 39 which passes through a packing gland 4I] in the cap 26 and hasan operating arm 4I secured thereto. Positioned in the recess 25 betweenthe cap` 26 and the adjacent end of the valve plug 38 I provide a coiledspring 42 which normallyrurges the valve plug towards the small end ofthe recess.

The valve plug 38 has an air conduit aperture 43 therethrough in linewith the body aperture 28 and 30 and in line with the body apertures 32and 3l the valve plug has a pair of communieating recesses 44 and 45therein which are positioned at right angles to each other.

When the valve 22 is in an open position the plug aperture 43communicates with both the body apertures 28 and 3l to alford freepassageway through the valve from the air tank to the gas tank. At thesame time the plug recess 44 communicates with the body aperture 32 andthe recess 45 communicates with the body aperture 31 to afford freepassageway through the valve from the gas tank to the conduit 35 asshown in Fig. 3.

When the Valve 22 is closed as shown in Fig. 2 the valve plug aperture43 is out oi. communica- 5 tion with the body apertures 28 and 3|]thereby restricting passageway through the valve body from the air tankto the gas tank and the valve plug recess 45 is out of communicationwith the body aperture 31 thereby restricting free passage from the gastank to the conduit 35.

For operating the Valve 22 I provide a lever 46 which is pivotedintermediate its length as at 41 on a bracket 48 which is shown asmounted on the steering wheel post I8. One end of a rod 49 is pivotallyconnected as at 58 to the upper end of the lever 46 and the opposite endof the rod is connected as at 5| to the valve operating arm 4|. Y Y

A coiled spring 52 which is anchored at one end to the portion I6 andsecured to the rod 49 as at 53 normally retains the valve arm 4| in aposition wherein the valve 21 is in a closed position.

Also for operating the valve to an open positionV I may provide a cordor exible wire 54 which is similar to a choke wire and which at one endmay be connected to the valve arm 4I and extends into the driverscompartment I2 where it depends from the ceiling and terminates in anger loop 54'.

As shown in Fig. 4 the gas tank 2| is cylindrical in cross section andincludes side walls 55 and an end wall 56, the opposite end being open.The open end of the gas tank is adapted to be closed by a cap 51 whichincludes an end wall 58 and a circular skirt 59. Positioned in the cap51 abutting the skirt 59 I provide a rubber gasket 60. The skirt portion59 of the cap and the gasket 6|) fit over the outer surface of the gastank.

Mounted on and secured to the gas tank as by welding I provide a ring 6|on which a plurality of bolts 62 are pivotally mounted as at 63 and onthe bolts I provide suitable nuts 64.

When the cap 58 is entirely positioned on the gas tank the bolts 62 arepositioned in slotted bosses 65 on the cap and the nuts are screwed upagainst the bosses to securely clamp the cap to the gas tank. Mounted onthe end wall 58 of. the cap 51 I provide a bracket 65 which supports ahollow tube 66 which is bevelled as at 61 to form a sharp pointed edge68.

Mounted. on the end wall 56 of the gas tank 2| I provide a hollow tube69 which like the tube 66 is bevelled as at 10 to form a sharp pointededge 1|. Intermediate its length the tube 69 has a collar 12 thereon andintermediate the collar and the end wall the tube 69 has a transverseaperture 13 therethrough. Further the gas tank 2| has a plurality ofinwardly extending longitudinal ribs 14.

In operation a closed container 15 which contains a gas such as tear gasunder low pressure is inserted into the gas tank 2| until the endthereof engages the tube 69 and then the cap 51 is positioned on the endof the gas tank and moved towards the container 15 until the tube 61engages the end of the container. Upon further movement of the captowards the container the bevelled end of the tube 69 and the bevelledend of the tube 66 will cut through the ends of the container whereuponthe gas in the container 15 flows through the tubes 66 and 69 into thegas tank 2 I. After the container 15 has been punctured the cap 51 isfirmly secured to the gas tank by the bolts 62, as previously described.

As shown in Fig. 1 the conduit 35 extends rearward from the valve 22 andis positioned in the side Wall of. the automobile where it extendsupward adjacent the door I3 to apOsition therefoot.

above where it communicates with a discharge tube 16. The discharge tube16 is mounted on the outside of the automobile body between the upperedge of the ldoor I3 and the trough 11 which is sometimes provided toconduct water away from the door. As shown in Fig. 6 the tube 16 ispreferably tear-dropshape with the large portion thereof positioned awayfrom the automobile body. The wall of the tube 16 is of greaterthickness at the large portion of the tube and has a plurality ofdischarge apertures 18 therein.

Adjacent the conduit 35 and the forward edge of the door I3 between theside wall of the automobile I provide a tube 'I9 which communicates withthe conduits 35 through a portion 80 (see Figs. 5 and '7). The tube 19has a plurality of. discharge nozzles 8| thereon each of which has anaperture 82 therein communicating with the interior of the tube (seeFig. 7). 'Ihe ends of the nozzles 8| extend through the side wall of theautomobile and are directed outwardV and rearward towards the door I3.

In the door I3 adjacent the lower edge of the window I2 I provide a tube83 having nozzles 84 thereon similar to the tube 19 and Vnozzles 8|. Theends of the nozzles 84 of the tube 83 extend through the side wall ofthe door I3 and are directed outward and upward.

Mounted on the tube 35 I provide an arcuate tube 85 which communicateswith the interior of the tube 35 and extends through an aperture 86 intothe door I3 where one end of a flexible tube 81 is connected thereto.The opposite end of the flexible tube 81 is connected to the tube 83.

Interposed in the conduit 35 adjacent the valve 22 I provide a tirevalve member 88.

In operation when a bandit approaches the door I3 the operator of theautomobile IU swings the lever 46 about its pivot 41 by means of his ASthe lever 46 is thus rocked it moves the rod 49 against the action of.the spring 52 and swings the valve arm 4| to a position wherein thevalve 22 is opened as previously described. Or if the operator iscommanded to put up his handsl he may pull the cord 54 which will swingthe valve arm 4| to a position wherein the valve 22 is opened. When theValve 22 is opened the highly compressed air in the air tank I9 ows intothe gas tank 2|, as previously described, thereby increasing thepressure in the gas tank and forcing the gas in the gas tank out andinto the conduit 35, as previously described. The gas then flows throughthe conduits 35 into the tubes 16, 19, and 83.

From the tube 16 the gas is discharged through the apertures 18 whichare preferably arranged at various angles to direct the gas over thegreatest possible area. From the tube 19 the gas is discharged throughthe nozzles 8| and from the tube 83 the gas is discharged from thenozzles 84. When the bandit retreats from the gas attack the operatorreleases the lever 46 on the cord 54 whereupon the spring 52 moves therod and the valve arm 4I to their normal positions wherein the valve 22is closed.

After discharging a quantity of gas the operator preferably drives intoa service station where a tire inilating air hose is connected to thevalve 88 to admit compressed air to the conduit 35 to blow out any gaswhich may be in the conduit 35 or the tubes 16, 19, and 83.

In Fig. 8 YI have shown a liquid tank 90 which may be used in place ofthe gas tank 2|. 'Ihe tank 90 includes a filling spout 9|'Which issecurely 'closed vby a cap 92 threaded thereon and lil in the top of thetank I preferably provide a tire valve 93 which after the tank is used,but its contents not completely discharged, may be used to relievepressure to the tank 90.

When the tank 9!) is used a tube 94 is provided one end of whichcommunicates with the inlet aperture 32 in the valve body 23 and theopposite end of the tube is positioned a slight distance above thebottom of the tank.

When the valve 22 is operated to an open position compressed air fromthe air tank I9 flows into the tank 9i! and forces the liquid therein upthrough the tube 94 and into the conduit 35 and thence into the tubes16, TQ, and 83.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a different type of liquid tank 95 which may beused instead of the air tank I9 and the gas tank 2i. The tank 95includes a filling spout 96 which is securely closed by a cap 91threaded thereon and in the top of the tank I provide a tire valve 93.The bottom of the tank S5 has a discharge aperture 99 therein whichcommunicates with a shutoff valve I which in turn communicates with theconduit 35. The valve I includes an operating arm HU to which the rod i9is connected.

In operation the tank 95 is approximately onethird filled with a liquidsuch as ammonia and then air Linder pressure is admittedinto the tankthrough the tire valve 98. When the operator actuates the valve arm I0!to open the valve l0@ the compressed air in the tank 95 forces theliquid therefrom into the conduit and thence into the tubes 16, 19, and83.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provideda novel bandit repelling device for automobiles which is simple inconstruction, easy to operate and highly eiiicient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a vehicle having an engine thereon for propellingthe same, said vehicle having a door frame, a conduit having a pluralityof discharge apertures and arranged in said frame about said door, saiddischarge apertures being directed outwardly from said vehicle, a fluidcontainer on said vehicle, said uid container having a filling aperture,said conduit being connected to said lcontainer, said conduit having ashut-off valve, said container and said conduit being independent of andout of communication with the propelling means of said vehicle.

2. The combination of a vehicle having an engine thereon for propellingthe same, said vehicle having a door frame, a conduit having a pluralityof discharge apertures and arranged in said frame about said door, saiddischarge apertures being directed outwardly from said vehicle, a fluidcontainer on said vehicle, said uid container being arranged below saidconduit discharge apertures, said container having a filling aperture,means connecting said conduit to said container, said connecting meansincluding a valve, said valve being disposed below said conduitdischarge apertures, said container and said conduit being independentof and out of communication with the propelling means of said vehicle.

3. The combination of a vehicle having an engine thereon for propellingthe same, said vehicle having a door, a conduit arranged in said door,

said conduit having a plurality of discharge apn ertures, said dischargeapertures being directed outwardly from said vehicle and a uidcontainer, said fluid container being independent of the propellingmeans of said vehicle, said fluid container having a valve whereby fluidunder pressure may be introduced and stored, a second conduit on saidvehicle, said second conduit being connected to vsaid fluid containerand having a shut-off valve therein and a iiexible fluid tight conduitconnecting said conduits.

ERNEST L. BURLEY.

